Teacher caught watching porn in class sentenced

none

March 31, 2010 1:04:24 PM PDT

HOUSTON --

Authorities say a former Houston-area teacher caught by students watching child pornography in his classroom has been sentenced to four-plus years in federal prison. Fernando Gonzalez was given an 87-month prison term Wednesday, and the 35-year-old from Houston was barred from living or working within 100 feet of a school or having contact with children under 18. He pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography in July.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Houston says students walking by Gonzalez's classroom at North Shore High School in Galena Park in 2008 saw him watching porn and fondling himself. The students reported him to school administrators.

Prosecutors say Gonzalez admitted having thousands of images of child porn on computer disks. He said he brought them to school to hide them from his wife.